Anthony Edwards vowed to work harder during the offseason after a disappointing playoff exit, leaving him and his Minnesota Timberwolves teammates wondering what could have been.
Playoff Performance
Edwards, the team’s star player, was held under 20 points in three of five games against Oklahoma City. He finished with 17 points in Game 5, shooting just 7-for-18 from the field and committing three turnovers while being outscored by 29 points.
Coach’s Perspective
"We lost our connectivity," Wolves coach Chris Finch said after the game. "All credit to Thunder though; they certainly deserved this." Finch acknowledged that Minnesota’s performance fell short in many areas, including:
- A total of 21 turnovers against Oklahoma City.
- These turnovers led to eight additional field goals for OKC, including seven layups.
- The Thunder celebrated their first trip to the NBA Finals since Kevin Durant took them there nine years ago.
Team Reflection
"It was tough coming up short again," Edwards said. "We’ve come so far this year. We’ve got a lot of young guys who are still learning how to win at this level."
Edwards finished the regular season averaging 27.6 points per game, the fourth best in the NBA, but struggled against Oklahoma City’s defense in the playoffs.
Julius Randle’s Thoughts
"I feel like we’re a better team than what we showed," said Julius Randle after being eliminated from postseason play for another year by his former team, with whom he won an NBA title two seasons ago. "So lots of motivation going into summer."
Struggles of Teammates
Randle was not alone in his struggles during the playoffs. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaden McDaniels combined for zero shots made in Game 5 after contributing six baskets off the bench in the previous week. McDaniels’ defensive effort also came under fire for failing pick-and-roll coverage multiple times.
On the other hand, Naz Reid was involved heavily in the game but couldn’t capitalize effectively enough, finishing with 11 points alongside a modest supporting cast.
Looking Ahead
Edwards reflected on the recent setbacks, stating, "It’s been tough coming up short again — especially considering how far we’ve come this year. But I’m determined to improve individually moving forward: nobody’s gonna work harder than me this summer."
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